2021 golf preview capsules

DIRIGO COUGARS
Coach: Butch Mckenna (fourth year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Returning athletes: Seniors — Wyatt Smith, Keegan Foreman; Junior — Austin Adams.
Key losses: Sam Skibitsky, Jacob Chow, Cole Brown.
Promising newcomers: Sophomores — Eli Lindus, John Lane.
What to expect: Since they didn’t play last year, this should be an interesting season for the Cougars, but one Mckenna said he is looking forward to. With only five team members, each of them will need to step up and quickly learn as much as they can.

EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Chris Merrill (eighth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: 4-2
Returning athletes: Sophomores — Connor Turcotte, Brayden Bashaw.
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Gage Ducharme, Gavin Levesque; Freshmen — Joey Samson, TJ Kramarz.
What to expect: The Red Eddies have a new core group of golfers after losing four of their top five to graduation. Merrill said that when the players perform their best they will have the opportunity to compete in a lot of matches.

GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER PATRIOTS
Coach: Wayne Martin (third year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Returning athletes: Seniors — Aubray Lincoln, Anthony Prescott, Reid Foreman; Junior — Jack Hardiman.
Key losses: Bert Doughty, Colby Haskell.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Colin Mulry; Junior — Ian Libby.
What to expect: This season brings some new faces to the Gray-New Gloucester golf program. The Patriots have depth on the roster, which may feature up to nine players gaining varsity experience. The goal of the team is to gain consistency as the season progresses and qualify for the state tournament. Gray-NG has strong leadership from its three senior captains, Aubray Lincoln, Anthony Prescott and Reid Foreman.

LEAVITT HORNETS
Coach: Harry Haylock (17th year)

Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: 2-0, KVAC champions, fourth at state championship.
Returning athletes: Senior — Ruby Haylock; Juniors — Aidan Lind, Billy Visconti; Sophomore — AJ Davis.
Key losses: Rebekah Davis, Morghan Dutil.
Promising newcomers: Freshmen — Jade Haylock, Alexis McCormick.
What to expect: The Hornets hope to be competitive in the KVAC. Ruby Haylock, a two-time state champion, is the team captain, and she, Jade Haylock, Billy Visconti and Alexis McCormick have played impressive golf this summer, which coach Harry Haylock hopes will continue through the high school season. Leavitt is again looking to qualify for the team and individual championships.

LEWISTON BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Tom LeBlond (ninth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: 3-5
Returning athletes: Senior — Sam Courtemanche; Sophomore — Avery Cox.
Promising newcomers: Sophomore — Ethen Blue; Freshmen — William Routhier, Charles Foster, Cameron Morin.
What to expect: The Blue Devils have little match experience, but coach Tom LeBlond said the team is determined to get better this season.

MONMOUTH MUSTANGS
Coach: Don Flanagan (fourth year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: MVC champion, eighth place at Class C state tournament.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Averi Beaudoin, Casey Kaplan; Junior — Kyle Clavet; Sophomores — Carter O’Connell, Reese Beaudoin.
Key losses: Abby Flanagan, Corbin Eldridge.
Promising newcomers: Junior — Mia Luce; Sophomores — Ryan Glidden, Riley Inch; Freshman — McCormack Wheaton.
What to expect: Averi Beaudoin, Kyle Clavet and Carter O’Connell all return with varsity experience and are aiming to lead the Monmouth/Hall-Dale cooperative team’s defense of its 2020 MVC championship. The team’s overall success will depend on how well Casey Kaplan and Reese Beaudoin, along with newcomers Mia Luce, Ryan Glidden and Riley Inch and Wheaton develop. Three of them will need to step up and provide depth and help the team again win the conference title and qualify for the team state championship for a fifth straight year.

MT. ABRAM ROADRUNNERS
Coach: Zach Zondlo (third year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Returning athletes: Sophomores — Trey Reed, Ethan Sniadecki.
Key losses: Ben DeBiase, Cade Tooker, Ethan Cockerham.
Promising newcomers: Sophomore — Cameron Grey; Freshmen — Bryce Wilcox, Logan Dube.
What to expect: After losing three starters, Mt. Abram will rely on underclassmen as it rebuild its program.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY FALCONS
Coach: Adam Curato (10th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Returning athletes: Seniors — Ian Cameron, Egan Roy, Logan Cote, Xavier Surrette; Juniors — Brooke Buotte, Jackson Bisson; Sophomore — River Durant.
Key losses: Levon Miceriz, EJ Weston, Ethan Casey.
Promising newcomers: Emmet Logsdon, Aiden Arsenault.
What to expect: Mountain Valley has many returning players who understand the game and should continue to grow throughout the season. Curato said the players’ swings have already showed improving since the start of preseason, and that they are receptive to instruction. With a year off due to COVID-19, Curato said that it is difficult to know how they will stack up against the rest of the MVC, but he thinks the Falcons will be competitive.

MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coach: Mark Cyr (12th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Returning athletes: Seniors — John Knapp, Ryker Samson, Reese Keaton, Ryan Keaton; Juniors — Eli Guerrette, Zak Kobin; Sophomores — Connor Hufnagel, Jack Cramer.
Key loss: Nick Fraser.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Brady Bickford; Freshman — Brody Farmer.
What to expect: After strong practices this fall, coach Mark Cyr has seen a lot of improvement from last year. Even though Mt. Blue was not allowed to compete with other teams, they did practice every day during the fall. Some of the players played a great deal during the offseason, and Cyr said that it is clear that it has paid off. The Cougars are looking to be competitive with the other teams in the conference.

OAK HILL RAIDERS
Coach: Tom Smith (fourth year), Peter Dennis (first year), Lucas Worrell (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 1-5
Returning athletes: Juniors — Jamison Bergeron, Austin Theriault, Xavier Hood; Sophomores — Cohen Landry, Kane Parker, Jack Caron.
Key losses: Tiger Hopkins, Adam Hinkley.
Promising newcomer: Junior — Austin Voye.
What to expect: The Raiders drop to Class C and are seeking improve upon last year’s one win. They lose the leadership of Tiger Hopkins and sophomore Adam Hinkley, who both have return to Oak Hill football team. The Raiders will be led by a strong junior class that will be combined with promising sophomores, who gained valuable experience competing last year as freshmen. The team will be led this year by coaches Peter Dennis and Lucas Worrell, who are filling for Tom Smith during his leave of absence.

OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coach: Ben Goodall (fourth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: 1-0
Returning athletes: Senior — Holden Rodzen; Junior — Belle Steeves.
Key loss: Dylan Davis.
Promising newcomer: Evan Smith.
What to expect: The Vikings will have a rebuilding year after losing 10 players from last year, including some who are returning to the football team.

POLAND KNIGHTS
Coach: Greggory Rose (seventh year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last years record: 0-4
Returning athletes: Juniors — Nick Garey, Hunter Bracket; Sophomores — Matt Bessette, Alerick Sands, Aidan Webb.
Key loss: Brody Keefe.
Promising newcomer: Junior — Hayden Christner.
What to expect: Hunter Bracket and Nick Gary have the most experience of the Knights’ five returning varsity players. They will need to carry the leadership role. Newcomer Hayden Christner and the other returning varsity players will have to play to their potential in order for the Knight to have a successful season in the Western Maine Conference.

RANGELEY LAKERS
Coach: Tim Straub (first year)
Conference: East-West/North-South; Class: C
Last year’s results: East-West/North-South conference champions.
Returning athletes: Senior — Boden Washington; Juniors — Trevor Dolbier, Isabelle Whittier.
Promising newcomer: Freshman — Jake Bottcher
What to expect: A number of Rangeley golfers have returned to soccer this year. Trevor Dolbier, Isabelle Whittier and Boden Washington will try to maintain their level of play from last year. Dolbier’s game has grown from last season and he should remain a presence at the individual state championship for the next two years. Straub is back as head coach after a year away from the position. It will be his 15th overall year coaching the team.

SPRUCE MOUNTAIN PHOENIX
Coach: Dianne Fenlason (eighth year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 4-1
Returning athletes: Senior — Matthew Fenlason; Juniors — Gavin Hutton, Myles Labonte; Sophomores — Bryce Marston, Brenden Veilleux.
Key losses: Drew Delaney, Sara Henderson, Hannah Coates, Madeline Labonte.
Promising newcomers: Junior — Tyler Spugnardi; Freshmen — Alex Grimaldi, Ben Burgess, Daxtyn Poisson, Brody Soper, Alex Ladd.
What to expect: Spruce Mountain, led by Matthew Fenlason, should be in the mix for the conference championship this year. Newcomers Tyler Spugnardi and Alex Grimaldi will be strong competitors in their first season. The large group of freshmen could become a strength in the future.

SAINT DOMINIC SAINTS
Coach: Chris Whitney (fourth year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Class C state runner-up.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Nick Ferrence, Caleb Phillip; Sophomores — Garret Kendall, Miles Frenette, Ethan Pelletier, Erik Jones.
Key losses: Neil LaRochelle III, Emma Skolfield.
Promising newcomer: Freshman — Mason LaFlamme.
What to expect: Neil Larochelle and Emma Skolfield are both playing college golf now, so developing depth will be key, especially since the Saints don’t yet have a front-runner for an individual title. They have a deeper team and four or five golfers who could be the team’s low man on any given day. Assistant coach Bob Darling and head coach Christ Whitney are really looking forward to working daily with this year’s team, and hope that the players will be playing their best golf by the end of September.

WINTHROP RAMBLERS
Coach: Lonney Steeves (11th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 4-0, MVC runner-up and fifth at the Class C state championship.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Nate Hachey, Cam Hurd; Junior — Jace Corgan.
Key loss: Nate Miller.
Promising newcomers: Freshmen — Colton Baird, Riley Fyfe, Logan Harrison, Chris Reed, Brian Rosell.
What to expect: Nate Hachey and Cam Hurd will lead the Ramblers this season. Hurd should be one of the top three of four players in the MVC. Corgan will be a solid player in the middle of the lineup. The freshmen’s progress as golfers and at learning about playing competitive golf will be the key to the Ramblers’ season. Fyfe is the first girl to play for Winthrop in about 20 years. Baird is fairly new to golf but already has a good feel for the game. Brian Rosell is already showing improvement, while Logan Harrison and Chris Reed are beginners, and Lonney Steeves is looking forward to watching their progress throughout the season. Steeves hopes Harrison and Reed will get at least one chance to play a scoring match by the end of the season.